Amid stalling talks between Congressional leaders over the content of new Coronavirus relief and economic stimulus legislation, the issue of providing for temporary restrictions on pandemic related lawsuits has emerged as an intractable dispute separating Democrats, Republicans, and key constituencies in their respective coalitions.

The Safe to Work Act (S. 4317), introduced last week by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) has opened a seemingly unbridgeable divide between Senate Republicans, who are insisting that liability relief be included in any comprehensive COVID-19 legislation, and House and Senate Democratic leaders who have offered blanket opposition to the measure.